Aztec Gold

Tonight I was busy with one of my favourite hobbies, namely beer making. Now how could beer making be green, I here you ask? Well glad you asked. Have a read of this post titled “Gav’s Eco Beer” to get a good understanding of the environmental benefits of making your own beer.

Anyway, I made up a simple recipe that I found on a the back of a Coopers leaflet called Aztec Gold. I put 500g of Dry light malt and 1 can of Coopers Cerveza brew mixture into the fermenter, added 2 litres of boiling water and mix. Once mixed, I added rain water to make up 23 litres, take an original specific gravity reading (mine was 1036) and then pitch the yeast when the temperature goes below 25C. To see how the process works, have a look at my Home Brewing video tutorial.

I made it up on Sunday 9th, before I came down sick, and it has been bubbling away merrily for 6 days. Kim let me put the fermenter in the laundry, because the temperature variation in the shed has been ridiculous and she likes Cerveza!

The beer stopped fermenting on Friday so I could have bottled it after work, however from experience, I always leave the beer in the fermenter for an extra two days, so that the beer settles and clears without the use of finings. The final specific gravity was 1008.

After washing and sterilising all 66 bottles, I added just under a teaspoon of white sugar to each bottle, then filled them all up as you can see below.

Then I went about putting the crown seals on each bottle with my hand capping machine.

My darling daughter Megan (who took the photos) always catches my best angle. Here is a sealed bottle. Once sealed, I invert the bottle a few times to dissolve the sugar to start secondary fermentation. This produces the beer bubbles.

Here is an action shot. It is a pretty simple process, and from start to finish bottling usually takes me about 90 minutes.

In about three weeks time, I will sample the Aztec Gold and see if it is a winner! It smelt very nice, and was crystal clear as I siphoned it from the fermenter to the bottles. I will let you know how it turns out when it is ready. Beer making is a great hobby, and I suppose that if I draw a really long bow, it is a great skill to have if the breweries every shut down or go broke, and besides that, the satisfaction of sharing your own home made beer with mates is second to none. Especially when it tastes great as well.

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About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Comments

We have beer to brew and should have done it this weekend ;). Even without the environmental and personal financial savings, I prefer our home brew to anything we buy.

For caps, we use the flip-top caps, and usually like them, although on a couple of occasions we’ve ended up with flat beer (thinking, perhaps, the seals weren’t tight?). How do you like your bottles with caps? And did you purchase them specifically for making your beer?

Looks great. When I used to brew beer, on bottling day I would disolve my priming sugar in some water then add it to the beer. Give a stirr to ensure it’s properly distributed, then transfer to bottles. Easier than spooning into each bottle, and ensures all bottles get an equal amount of sugar!

We have a broken bar fridge with a light globe and thermometer in,the fermenter fits in nicely, this keeps the beer at a constant temp while brewing. Need it warmer or cooler change the size of the globe, mind it has to be an incandescent.

I did purchase bottles for the beer that was in it, but chose that brand because it used crown seals. So in a way, yes. I do like the crown seals better than PET bottles, which most of the home brewing companies are selling at the moment. The plastic leaks CO2 over time, and the beer goes flat after a year or so.

@ Dad,

I agree. I like sharing them with you mate!

@ Donna,

I will save you one!

@ Darren,

It is a great medium of exchange and an even better reward as you mentioned. Especially when it tastes good. Some home brews I wouldn’t drink for all the tea in Sri Lanka. Rancid.

@ Jeff,

It would be a good idea for a darker ale, however as I wanted to minimise the sediment in the beer due to the clear bottles and not wanting to decant into a glass, it would not help me in this instance. I will try it next time I make an ale.

@ Sue,

I have a neighbour who uses the same method except that he uses a cupboard with a thermostat. He can brew most of the year around, except on really hot (30+C) days.

Ah, yes. It’s been a few years, and I fogot that to reduce the sediment problem I would transfer (via syphon) the beer from the glass carboy back into the primary fermentation bucket. This required moving the carboy up onto the counter (or chair) the day before bottling (again to let it settle). This left most of the sediment that forms during fermentation in the carboy and the beer remained clear. If you’re using a single bucket system (which works fine too) then this won’t work.

Oh, by the way, I found your site after getting into cheese making myself! I’m going to try some of the ones you’ve posted. I’ve only made a couple batches, but so far things are going well enough to continue.

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About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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Podcast Reviews

Always inspiring and entertaining!

August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

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July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do.
Thanks Gavin, love it!!

Well worth your time to tune in

October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast !
I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to.
Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

very good

June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

opened my eyes

May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

A wonderful show!

Inspiring

April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

Green Living, inspiring and practical

January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

Local food equals less waste

December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

Honestly australian

December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

Morning motivation

December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

Passionate Advocate

October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

Gavin speaks from the heart

October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

Green thoughts, so well iterated

October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

Easy listening inspiration on being green

September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

Thanks Gavin!

August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm

August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

Green Podcasts

July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

Practical ideas and inspiration

July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

Interesting & easy to listen to

April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

Great green listen

April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese